Miller brace stings Thistle

Charlie Miller watches his first goal fly in

Partick Thistle 0-2 Dundee United

A goal in each half from Charlie Miller gave Dundee United their first win of the season against Partick Thistle at Firhill.

The defeat leaves the Jags at the bottom of the table and still searching for a win after six games.

Thistle can count themselves unlucky not have earned something from a game in which they created a number of good chances.

But as the game wore on United took a grip on play and Thistle never looked like coming back from two goals down.

The home side were unlucky not be ahead after just five minutes when a Jean-Yves Anis cross found Stuart Taylor and he knocked the ball into the path of James Grady just a few yards out.

But the former Dundee and Ayr United striker watched in disbelief as former Jag Alan Archibald made a superb goal-line clearance to keep the scores level.

Thistle were threatening again after 11 minutes when Anis flighted a cross into the box which was met by Gerry Britton on the edge of the six-yard line but he fired well over the crossbar.

Jags defender David Lilley flicked Jamie Mitchell's corner into the path of Grady but somehow the tiny striker managed to fire over the crossbar from just a couple of yards out.

Thistle were still pushing forward and they came close again when Britton bulleted a header at goal but the effort was comfortably held by United goalkeeper Tony Bullock.

Dundee United had do defend well in the first half

With half an hour gone, Anis surged into the box but the chance was wasted when he drove the ball wide of the post.

A free-kick 30 yards out provided Dundee United with their first real chance of the game a couple of minutes later but Danny Griffin's powerful strike was tipped past the post by Kenny Arthur.

With five minutes of the first half remaining, United took the lead when Andy McLaren's corner was met by Jim McIntrye who tried his luck with a header. It was not cleared properly and the ball broke to Miller who rammed home the opener.

At the start of the second half United defender Archibald went close to scoring an own goal when he diverted a Mitchell cross inches wide of the post.

Partick continued to make most of the running and Taylor saw a fine header blocked well from Bullock.

Miller went close for United when he unleashed a shot from just inside the 18-yard area, but the effort took a slight deflection and fell wide.

But the Tannadice midfielder was more successful when he added to United's lead after 64 minutes.

Jason Scotland's cut-back from the by-line found Miller unmarked 16 yards out, and he drove the ball into the top left hand corner.

United substitutes Collin Samuel and Mark Kerr combined to create a chance but the latter's thunderous effort went inches wide of the post with just 12 minutes remaining.

Miller tried for a hat-trick when he took a free-kick from 30 yards out, but the effort was held by Arthur, seconds before Billy Dodds rammed his shot into the side netting.

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Partick Thistle: Arthur, Lilley, Milne, Murray, Anis (Thomson 70), Rowson, Mitchell, Ian Ross, Britton, Grady, Taylor. Subs Not Used: Budinauckas, Andy Ross, Bonnes, Gemmill.

Dundee Utd: Bullock, Griffin, Duff, Innes, Archibald, McInnes, McLaren (Kerr 76), Miller, Scotland (Dodds 81), McIntyre, James Paterson (Samuel 72). Subs Not Used: Gallacher, McCracken.

Attendance: 4,711
Referee: K Toner

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